Lao students head to European universities
The EU Delegation bid farewell to 2014 Erasmus Mundus scholars.
Ambassador Philip Malone attends reception for Erasmus Mundus scholars
This week, the European Union Delegation in Vientiane organised an annual meeting with the EU Erasmus Mundus scholarship recipients and farewell for 2014 awardees from Laos before they head to EU member countries including Austria, France, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, to undertake further studies at levels ranging from professional trainings to doctorate degrees.
The event was attended by European Union Charge d’Affaires Mr Michel Goffin, officials from Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National University of Laos as well as diplomats from EU Member States’ embassies, including British Ambassador Philip Malone, and former and new Erasmus students.
At least nine students from Laos will leave this year for Europe, with another 55 candidates following them at a later date because universities from Laos, including Savannaket University, are partners of four successful Partnership Projects under the Erasmus Mundus 2014 call.
The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programme, which is now known as “Erasmus Plus Programme” offers financial support for institutions and scholarships for individuals. It aims to enhance quality in higher education through scholarships and academic cooperation between Europe and the rest of the world and improve third countries’ students and staff career prospects.
Speaking at the event, Mr Michel Goffin, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation said:
The education plays a crucial role in the development of any country for providing younger generations with perspectives. By promoting academic Laos we are giving scholarship recipients the means to better shape their own futures and to understand and respect each other. But we are also contributing to bringing back to Laos highly qualified young women and men for a better development of the country.
I encourage interested people from Laos to well prepare before they apply for the programme, in particular their language skills in order to ensure a higher success rate.
From 2004 - 2013, 187 scholarships have been awarded to Lao students to undertake professional trainings, bachelor, master and doctorate degrees in European countries.
Further information
More information on the programme can be found at European Commission website
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